On December 2, the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM) of CAS officially began construction of the Shanghai Superintense Ultrafast Laser Facility (SULF).

Earlier in August, the R&D of this laser facility made a significant breakthrough by delivering the world’s highest peak power laser pulses of more than five petawatts and a pulse width of 24 femtoseconds, which laid a solid technological foundation for realizing the 10-petawatt target of the SULF project and signaled that China has reached world-leading levels in this field.

The R&D of ultra-high peak power and ultrafast lasers is a frontier field with enormous scientific impact and huge application prospects, and thus sees fierce competition. The super-lasers may lead to technological revolution and create new industries.

Shanghai Superintense Ultrafast Laser Facility (SULF) begins assembly on December 2. (Image by CAS)

Source: english.cas.cn